In our latest episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Xavier Cortada, an artist whose work transcends traditional forms of expression to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time—climate change and social justice. As part of the Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives lecture series, Xavier will be speaking at Wayne State University on September 18, 2024. Xavier's journey is a testament to the power of art as a vehicle for change. He recalls his early influences, particularly his f...
Sep 13, 2024•24 min•Ep. 1502
Hey! We made it! Episode 1,501 of your Daily Detroit! Your all-local daily news podcast. Norris Howard and Devon O'Reilly join in with Jer at the studio in TechTown. Here's what we get into: We reflect on 1500 episodes, highlighting the show's impact and the variety of guests we've had over the years. We also get into the changes in the cityscape of Detroit since we started, and the opening of new businesses becoming more common. Devon crowns a new king of the Maurice salad in the city of Detroi...
Sep 12, 2024•26 min•Ep. 1501
Welcome to Wednesday - Norris Howard is in. We do a little debate debrief, with an emphasis on the impact on Metro Detroit, particularly regarding immigration and community concerns. The conversation then shifts to a significant local development project: The transformation of the former Kmart headquarters in Troy into Somerset West, a mixed-use development planned with 750 residential units, office space, retail, and a University of Michigan health facility. They discuss the potential impact on...
Sep 11, 2024•24 min•Ep. 1500
In this episode of Daily Detroit, Fletcher Sharpe joins and kicks off with a deep discussion on the Detroit Lions' promising start to the NFL season, highlighting key players like David Montgomery, and the team's newfound offensive and defensive competence. We also touch on the Michigan Wolverines' challenging season, examining their recent game against Texas and the adjustments needed in the NIL era. The conversation shifts to the Detroit Tigers, celebrating their over .500 performance and the ...
Sep 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1499
In this episode of Daily Detroit, Steve Friess joins us to dive into the complexities of political polling, the upcoming presidential debate, and local Michigan politics. We dissect the reliability and value of national polls, discuss the implications of Kamala Harris's campaign strategies, and explore the contentious University of Michigan Board of Regents race. Tune in for a deep dive into the current political landscape and what it means for Michigan and beyond. Main topics: The Unreliability...
Sep 09, 2024•24 min•Ep. 1498
Devon and Jer are back for a Friday edition of the podcast. A heads up, the last segment of this one is pretty emotional. To start, they dive into the vibrant Detroit dining scene, highlighting Ladder 4 Wine Bar, and the only downtown deli, La Pecora Nora, emphasizing the importance of revisiting and supporting local favorites. Devon shares his experience at Mezcal Express Eatery in Dearborn, perfect for quick, delicious Mexican meals without the booze. Jer explores the newly renovated Love Buil...
Sep 06, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1497
Here’s what’s on today’s all-local podcast agenda: 800 Teamsters Local 283 members at Detroit's Marathon Oil Refinery have gone on strike, demanding better pay and schedules. Despite Marathon's assurances of continued operations, the strike underscores ongoing labor tensions. Workers at a GM and LG battery plant in Tennessee have joined the UAW, marking the second battery plant in the U.S. to unionize. This move is part of a broader trend of growing union influence in the electric vehicle sector...
Sep 05, 2024•25 min•Ep. 1496
We're back after the Labor Day holiday, and talking about Fletcher's racing in the Hamtramck Labor Day Yacht Festival, an event filled with human sized soap car derbies and water balloons. Despite making it to the finals for the fifth straight year, his team, Whiskey in the Jar, fell short again. We also dive into the vibrant atmosphere of Metro Detroit's recent events, including the Jazz Fest and Arts, Beats & Eats. Jer recounts his bike ride along the Dequindre Cut and the need for better ...
Sep 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1495
Welcome back from the long weekend! Steve Friess is back to talk all things politics with a Michigan and local Metro Detroit lens. If you don't know Steve, he's a veteran freelance journalist for the New York Times, Newsweek and many others. Some of the topics we hit: Political Landscape: Jer and Steve discuss the heated race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Harris recently visited Detroit and we discuss her possible strategic avoidance of college campuses ...
Sep 03, 2024•39 min•Ep. 1494
On today's show: Show and Tell: Mayor O'Reilly Campaign Merch to the studio! Devon is excited about football season kicking off Local Spotlights: La Ventana and a tour of the upcoming Marrow space Inside the reopened Third Street Bar Development News: The Henry on Cass Listener Question: When Will Detroit start seeing the real impact of being a Climate Change Haven? Share your thoughts with us at dailydetroit@gmail.com . Follow us on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or your podcast player of choice. P...
Aug 29, 2024•28 min•Ep. 1493
Welcome to your Wednesday all-local podcast sharing what to know and where to go in Metro Detroit. Power Outages: Jer and Norris Howard dive into the ongoing power outage affecting over 190,000 DTE customers, including Jer himself, keeping his streak of longer than one-day outages every summer. Internet Incentives Expiration: With Congress failing to renew funding for the program that subsidizes internet for low-income households, thousands of Detroiters are at risk of losing their internet serv...
Aug 28, 2024•20 min•Ep. 1492
Happy hot Tuesday! I hope you're beating the heat. Lions history showcased: Jer shares his weekend adventure at the Detroit Historical Museum, where he explored a new exhibit on the Detroit Lions. From old helmets to historic footage, discover the rich history of this iconic team. The op Ten Detroit Lions Since 1965: Fletcher Sharpe tackles a listener question from Larry, listing his top ten Detroit Lions players from 1965 onwards. From Alex Karas to Calvin Johnson, this segment is a deep dive i...
Aug 27, 2024•31 min•Ep. 1491
Our weekly roundup of locally-tied political news is back, as veteran journalist Steve Friess joins us to talk all things from local to statewide to how the national race ties into Metro Detroit. We hit on a few topics today: RFK Jr. has officially dropped out of the race. We discuss the implications of his decision to endorse Donald Trump and how this might impact Michigan's political landscape. Steve shares insights into RFK Jr.'s controversial past and his strange, erratic behavior that has p...
Aug 26, 2024•24 min•Ep. 1490
Welcome to the Friday edition of the podcast! Thanks for accomodating our posting schedule this week. - Devon O'Reilly talks about a family trip South Haven, a charming West Coast Michigan beach town. He offers tips for first-time visitors, including must-see spots. - Jer explores the underappreciated Detroit suburb of Berkley. He highlights Coffee and Bark, a dog-themed coffee shop with a coworking space and dog-friendly area, and Perch, a home goods store with unique items like a heron lamp an...
Aug 23, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1489
On today's show: - More shifts when it comes to electric vehicles. Ford is making some moves, changing timelines and offerings. - There's a mulch fire on Detroit's west side, so that's why the air quality might be bad today and for the next few days. - Some of Metro Detroit's most beloved pizza spots are among the top in the country. We go through them, and want to know your favorites! Then our feature conversation is about the idea that moving to Detroit is kind of like moving into a constructi...
Aug 21, 2024•32 min•Ep. 1488
Welcome to your all-local news and entertainment podcast, Daily Detroit, for Tuesday, August 20th, 2024! - General Motors is laying off more than 1,000 salaried employees globally, including about 600 jobs at the tech campus in Warren. This restructuring is part of GM's efforts to streamline operations and prioritize investments in electric and software-defined vehicles. We discuss the implications for Metro Detroit and the wider auto industry, noting the shift of jobs to the West Coast and the ...
Aug 20, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1487
Welcome back to the podcast! Journalist Steve Friess joins me as he does every week to talk politics, local, state and national. - We discuss the recent white supremacist demonstration in Brighton, the third such event in Livingston County this year. Local businesses have condemned these actions, and we explore the historical context of racism in the area. - Former President Trump's upcoming visit to Howell has raised concerns among local officials. We analyze the strategic implications of this ...
Aug 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1486
Welcome back to Daily Detroit, your podcast for everything Metro Detroit! Today, we’re talking about the crisis of talent attraction and retention in Southeast Michigan. With me is Jayme Powell, the executive director of the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership. Jayme talks about how her organization connects employers with local schools and community partners to build a strong talent pool in Southeast Michigan. We discuss the challenges and benefits of this approach, like the need for lasting...
Aug 16, 2024•18 min•Ep. 1485
Welcome to your all-local daily news podcast serving Metro Detroit! We kick off with the heartwarming news of a baby gorilla born at the Detroit Zoo, the first in nearly 100 years. Bandia, a first-time mom, and her baby are doing well, although the Great Apes building is temporarily closed to guests to give them a calm and quiet space. Next, we discuss the upcoming opening of Primark's first Michigan store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. Set to open on September 12, the new loca...
Aug 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 1484
Detroit has a new shuttle service, Connect AV, and we tried it (and not during the press tour). Boy, do we have thoughts. For "where we've been," Devon talks about Corn on the Corner in West Dearborn. Turns out Devon loves corn, and a restaurant specializing in it is exactly what he was looking for. https://www.cornonthecorner.com/ And Jer talks about MJ's North End Ice Cream shop, where he drowned his not so great weekend in a strawberry sundae. https://mjsnorthendicecream.com/...
Aug 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1483
Happy Tuesday and welcome to your all-local news podcast, Daily Detroit. Fletcher Sharpe kicks off talking about the Olympics, especially the electric performances from Team USA's basketball stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. They share amusing anecdotes about foreign sports broadcasts, highlighting the unique passion and energy that different languages bring to the games. The conversation then shifts to some concerning local news. Stellantis is laying off up to 2,450 workers at their Wa...
Aug 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 1482
Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Monday, August 12, 2024. On the all-local podcast today: Steve shares his recent experience working the polls in Superior Township, offering a firsthand account of the election process and the importance of bipartisan poll workers. He highlights the challenges and intricacies involved, and learned a lot. The conversation then shifts to the national political scene, focusing on Vice President Kamala Harris's recent surge in swing states according to a Sienna Coll...
Aug 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1481
Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Friday, August 9, 2024. Hosts Jer and Devon dive into a rich discussion, starting with Devon's recent trip to Providence, Rhode Island. Devon shares how he enjoyed the charm of this New England city, from its historical architecture to its seafood delights, and reflect on how it compares to Detroit's vibrant scene. Devon shares his admiration for Providence's old-world charm, but notes the city's lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and its surprisingly ab...
Aug 09, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1480
Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Wednesday, August 7, 2024. In this episode, Jer and Norris dive into the crucial races, including Elissa Slotkin's dominant performance in the US Senate primary, Hill Harper's missed bid (and which race he could have won). They discuss the implications of these results on the political landscape, particularly the need for new leadership and deeper community engagement. How changing demographics mean you can't just show up and assume a demographic is going to sho...
Aug 07, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1479
In today's episode, we dive into the world of invasive species with a focus on the Spotted Lanternfly. Join us as we chat with Zach Lacombe, Assistant Manager of the Davey Residential Office, to learn about this unwanted garden guest, what to look out for, and how to handle it. DNR link: https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/insects/spotted-lanternfly
Aug 06, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1478
Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Monday, August 5, 2024. Hosts Jer and Fletcher dive into their unpopular opinion, the end of beloved outdoor retailer MooseJaw, and the abrupt closure of Newsnet. We open with a pair of unpopular opinions about coney dogs and pedal pubs. Then in our segment on endings, we talk about the closure of MooseJaw’s final three stores, including the last Michigan location in Birmingham. Acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods in early 2023, Jer and Fletcher discuss the missed...
Aug 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1477
Happy Friday! Today - a busy show. A local man held prisoner by Russia was freed as part of a swap. We discuss. We get into a question some of you had about whether Detroit should bid for a future Olympics - and get into if that's something we even want to go for? Plus, some listeners weren't happy with an earlier episode where Fletcher Sharpe had strong feelings about Hulk Hogan. FYI. Devon also has strong feelings. Plus how media and audiences need to not just include voices of color, but allo...
Aug 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1476
The Joe Louis Greenway has gotten a lot of buzz locally and nationally. But what's the bigger vision? What's ahead? How will this integrate with the communities it serves? Joe Louis Greenway Partnership Executive Director Leona Medley joins us to discus the formation and goals of the newly formed nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Joe Louis Greenway project in Detroit. The partnership focuses on community engagement, ongoing beautification, programming, and maintaining the greenway to ensure ...
Aug 01, 2024•33 min•Ep. 1475
In this episode of Daily Detroit, hosts Jer and Norris dive into the landmark Michigan Supreme Court ruling that will significantly impact minimum wage and paid sick leave laws. The Court has ruled that the "adopt-and-amend" tactics used by the (at the time) Republican-controlled Legislature to alter ballot initiatives regarding minimum wage and paid sick leave were unconstitutional. They attempted to adopt language passed by voters, but then change it so it was unrecognizable to what was passed...
Jul 31, 2024•24 min•Ep. 1474
On today's show with Fletcher Sharpe.... We talk Michiganders and Michigan-connected people to watch at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Fletcher shares his excitement for the games, particularly the cultural celebrations and the significance of medals to athletes from smaller countries. A couple of names include basketball star Devin Booker and track sensation Grace Stark. Next, they delve into the unexpected appearance of Terry Bollea (a.k.a. Hulk Hogan) at the Detroit Lions training camp. T...
Jul 30, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1473
